Broadway's 'Back to the Future' brings high-energy nostalgia to Tulsa PAC

The Broadway tour of Back to the Future: The Musical brings high-energy performances, nostalgic moments, and a flying DeLorean to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center through Sunday.

Wednesday, April 16th 2025, 11:11 am

By: LeAnne Taylor

Tulsa audiences are being transported through time as the Broadway touring production of Back to the Future: The Musical makes a stop at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.

The show, based on the beloved 1985 film, brings the iconic story to life with dynamic performances, stunning stagecraft, and even a flying DeLorean.

Actors Zan Berube and Mike Bindeman, who play Lorraine and George McFly, joined News On 6 in the studio to talk about the show following their opening night performance.

Bringing the Movie to the Stage

The musical features all the fan-favorite moments from the film and adds a fresh twist through song and stage design.

"It's an absolute blast," Berube said. "My favorite performances are the ones where you can tell that fans of the movie are in the house because they bring the energy, they are ready for the iconic scenes you know and love, and it's just, it's a blast."

Bindeman added that the show is a treat for newcomers and longtime fans alike.

"You're seeing some fantastic stagecraft," he said. "If you've seen the movie, you see all your favorite iconic moments. If you haven't seen the movie, you're seeing a hilarious Broadway musical comedy that also has, you know, a car on stage."

Life on the Road

Traveling across the country with a touring production has its challenges, but the cast embraces it.

"We learn every day, all year," Berube said. "I mean, we're adjusting to the allergy seasons. You're adjusting to a new bed, a new home, a new atmosphere. But it keeps us on our toes, and it's why we love touring. It's part of the thrill of the job, getting to see a new theater every week. It's awesome."

Iconic Roles, Unique Interpretations

Portraying characters made famous by Michael J. Fox, Lea Thompson, and Crispin Glover comes with pressure, especially for Bindeman, who steps into the eccentric role of George McFly.

"Crispin Glover did something really iconic, and you have to pay homage to those guys, the original cast members," Bindeman said. "And then you go, I grew up on, I watched a lot of Scooby-Doo. I watched a lot of Tom and Jerry. And so when you take it to the stage, you get to take your own influences with you.

"So we get to be a little bit wilder," he continued. "You're playing not necessarily to the last row of the theater, but you get to play a little bit bigger. And so you get to do something really fun with it."

Physical Demands of the Show

With quick movements and exaggerated performances, both actors said keeping up physically is part of the job.

"It's a pretty extensive warm-up routine," Bindeman said. "You gotta roll out, you gotta stretch or otherwise after the show you're like, 'Oh no.' Saturdays and Sundays can be tough. But also, you know, it's really fun to—at your job—you get to do not necessarily gymnastics but something pretty close."

A Star Car Steals the Spotlight

Outside the theater, audiences are greeted with a DeLorean photo-op—though not the original, it's close enough to draw a crowd.

"People are thrilled," Bindeman said. "I mean, it's such an iconic part of our culture, not just like our movie culture. And so, you know, everybody's lined up to take a picture with it. Everybody's excited to get in."

"It's really the most famous cast member of the show—the DeLorean," Berube joked.

Show Details

Back to the Future: The Musical runs through Sunday at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. The full schedule is below: